Help With Rehoming

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kufhorn

kufhorn

Junior Guinea Pig
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Kansas, United States
I put up an ad on our local craigslist to find a new home for one of my piggies. We have 6 in 4 cages and it has becoming too much for me to handle. I looked into a rescue but have found no luck. I live out in Kansas and guinea pigs are not common out here. I have two sets of bonded pairs and two unbonded. One of the unbonded has some tummy issues and can't be bonded since she can't have too many fresh veggies. I think she would fight with the other piggies for them.
I wanted to keep the two bonded pairs (one set if female and the other male) Logistically, that makes more sense. I love them all but I think I bit off more then I can chew. I was suppose to give back the 2 boys but the school no longer has room for them. The last unbonded I hope to bond with the other girls. She is very dominate and I hope she doesn't fight with the other two.
A women emailed me and said she has a rescue for guinea pigs. I want to make sure she is really running a rescue and not *sigh* using them for animal food. :( Suggestions on what to ask her before I meet? Not sure how to proceed but I need some safe place for my piggy to go.
Please help!
 
I'd ask to see pics of her set up. I'd also ask how many piggies she has rehomed in the last year, whether in pairs or alone etc. Also I'd ask what her policy was on rehoming and neutering. And do as much research as you can about her. Hope this helps x
 
Okay I just sent her an email back. Asking questions and telling her I hope she understands that I want to be super cautious since guinea pigs can be used as animal food.
 
Would it be possible for you or a friend to do a home visit? Alarm bells would ring if anyone didnt want someone checking out where the piggies would be going to.
 
Ask for her address &see if u can take a sneaky peak on google earth her home &how long she's been a rescue. If its a long term thing u might even get piggy runs on the lawn hutches in the garden.

When u talk to her on the phone ask questions that need spontaneous answers like the reasons behind other people leaving guineas with her. If she names them even better.

Talk about different piggies then go back to the second or third &get her to talk about it again &if she gets the names or problems muddled she's probably not being overly truthful &picking names Willy nilly making them up as she goes along.

Also ask her to bring along some photo's of the ones she's rescued. They should all have the same wallpaper-background, hutch surroundings, etc.
If they all look different she may have just got pics printed off the internet of guineas.
If she has any newspaper cuttings of her rescue &any photos of herself with some of her guineas.
Does she have any as pets that are her own or special needs that can't be rehomed &how does she care for them.

Definitely chat to her on the phone, emails can be written &there is time to think about the answer whereas us guinea lovers bang on about our piggies for hours &you can tell how passionate a person is with their voice etc about their piggies.

Find out if she has a website, does she do fundraising, what events does she hold, how does she fund it.
Any worthy rescue won't mind any of these questions.

I probably wouldn't have mentioned about the small animal food as she may make sure she diverts conversation away from it so she doesn't get caught out.
Ask what other pets she has.

I definitely like the home visit idea &try to make it ASAP after requesting it so they dont have time to prissy things up or hide things before u get there.

Good luck
x
 
She has sent me a few emails now. One is a link to her facebook page that was JUST set up the evening she emailed me with pictures. My computer won't let me look at them since they think they are spam
Lovett's Piggie Paradise Guinea pig Rescue & Caviary | Facebook


I wrote her this:

Thanks for answering my questions. I would love to see picture of your current piggies.
Snickerdoodle does have one special need, she can't have very many fresh veggies/fruits. She gets loose stool. The previous owner did not know about what proper food was. And I think that might have messed up her gut. She is on a hay and water diet with pellets for the vitamins she needs. She is very happy and loves humans. I don't think she has ever had a cage mate.


She responded:
Maggy and Missy. My 2 beautiful ladies and if they don't get along I can totally set up a separate cage for snicker doodle not a problem whatsoever! You can also check out my page and my group on Facebook I just set it up today Lovett's Piggie Paradise (Guinea pig rescue & Caviary). Snicker doodle would be very well taken care of and loved no worries there I can make sure she gets the right diet for sure! I hope to hear from you soon and I hope you choose us to home snickers with. Sincerely Ashlee
AND then emailed this:
Their home looks dull right now because I have stuff coming in the mail for them. Sorry about the bad photography lol

Then I get another email asking about my craigslist post. I guess she didn't realize she inquired about her before?

Suggestions? Does this sound fishy?
 
The only way to be sure would be to go and see with your own eyes.
The fact she's approached you twice, having forgotten she's already communicating with you could be suspicious - wonder if she's a hoarder.
Sounds like a brand new set up - only 2 piggies shown, cage with no hay, no beds etc. Brand new FB page. Not an established rescue.
My antennae would be twitching. Sorry.
 
Alarm bells are ringing for me. Would not let pig go.
 
Just seen on her FB page that she has 2 pregnant sisters. No further explanation. They are the 2 she seems to be suggesting to put with your girl. You have to make your own decision. I know what mine would be.
 
Try a reverse search of the images, see if shes taken them from the internet somewhere. It does sound a bit fishy, personally I would go check it out in person or rehome to someone else at this point.
 
Update. I haven't emailed her back.
She has updated her Facebook page for the guinea pig rescue and has more piggies. I can also see her Facebook page. Still kind of torn .
 
If you are still undecided than could you e-mail and ask about a visit?
If she is genuine she will understand your need to see where your piggies are going.
And as an experienced owner you will know right away if the situation is dodgy.
To me the photos look very 'staged', because whilst I would love a cage that looks so perfect, we all know the reality of life with piggies is far from clean fleece and neat piles of veg!

But maybe if you went there in person you would get more a feel for how genuine (or not) her set up is.
Sadly having worked for a dog rescue a few years ago we used to see this all the time.
People are genuinely concerned for the welfare of an animal, and think they can help by creating a 'rescue' for unwanted animals, and re-homing everything that comes their way. There are no real laws to stop people doing this, and before they know it they are in over their heads. Their hearts are in the right place, but there is so much more to it than just taking in lots of animals.
 
Swissgreys said:
If you are still undecided than could you e-mail and ask about a visit?
If she is genuine she will understand your need to see where your piggies are going.
And as an experienced owner you will know right away if the situation is dodgy.
To me the photos look very 'staged', because whilst I would love a cage that looks so perfect, we all know the reality of life with piggies is far from clean fleece and neat piles of veg!

But maybe if you went there in person you would get more a feel for how genuine (or not) her set up is.
Sadly having worked for a dog rescue a few years ago we used to see this all the time.
People are genuinely concerned for the welfare of an animal, and think they can help by creating a 'rescue' for unwanted animals, and re-homing everything that comes their way. There are no real laws to stop people doing this, and before they know it they are in over their heads. Their hearts are in the right place, but there is so much more to it than just taking in lots of animals.
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Thanks! I do think she is in over her head. So i think I will look elsewhere. My little girl needs special home. We love her but I don't think we give enough attention to her with all the other piggies.
 
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